TEXT: ‘I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’ (Psalm 121:1-2). “Jesus lifted up His eyes”. Today’s Teaching focusses on six occasions when He did that, to discover what we can learn and then imitate. In Part 1, we considered Multiplication – when Jesus fed the 5000; Compassion – when He saw the multitudes as they really were; and Resurrection – when He demonstrated He had power over death. Part 2 studies three more times when it is recorded, “Jesus lifted up His eyes”. 4. Intercession – ‘Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You’ (John 17:1) A. Lift up your eyes when no one can help you Lift up your eyes to the One who loves you, cares for you and can keep you. ‘Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy’ (Jude 1:24). Jehoshaphat prayed, ‘For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You’ (2 Chronicles...
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TEXT: ‘I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’ (Psalm 121:1-2). Eyesight is wonderful, but like many other things in life, we usually fail to appreciate the blessing of sight until we start wearing glasses, or worse still end up blind. I used to be able to spot the golf ball on the green up to 200 yards away, but now, due to the early stages of cataracts, it’s much more difficult to see the ball until I am a lot closer. Reading John’s gospel, I was struck by the phrase, “Jesus lifted up His eyes”. Today’s Teaching focusses on six occasions when He did that, to discover what we can learn and then imitate. 1. Multiplication – ‘Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”’ (John 6:5) ‘When He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples’ (Mark 6:41). When what we have isn’t enough, let’s lift up our eyes to the One who can multiply, El Shaddai – the God who is more...
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TEXT: ‘For the Lord your God is a consuming fire; He is a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely His]’ (Deuteronomy 4:24 AMP). On cold, winter nights, it’s comforting to warm oneself around the fire, especially if it’s wood or coal. What a difference a real fire makes. Fire has an eternal aspect in that when it’s kept going, it will never go out of its own accord. Proverbs says, ‘The fire never says, “Enough”’ (Proverbs 30:16). Recent wildfires around the world bear testament to this truth. Today’s Teaching highlights what the Bible has to say about fire. 1. Fire of Compromise – ‘Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.” But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”’ (Luke 22:55-57). Jesus had been arrested and brought before the High Priest. Peter followed at a distance to see what would happen. As he warmed himself by the fire, a servant girl challenged him, that he was a disciple. When Peter denied it three times, the cock crew and Jesus...
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